I’ve left the best till last.
Well, I’ve a lot of personal experience of this, lately.
However, before I come to how to deal with them, perhaps I should try to explain the precise ‘scenario’ that involves them.
It goes like this (think about it … it is not hard!):
If someone is in ‘debt’, and someone else comes to the rescue - and pays off the debt - what is the situation?
I think you’ll agree that the situation is something like this:
Whoever was paid off, is now perfectly happy, and isn’t likely to re-demand being paid (although this does mistakenly happen, of course!). But, generally speaking, once they are paid off, they toddle off into the sunset.
In other words, the so-called ‘debt’ has been ‘extinguished’ by payment of it.
Now, if whoever paid it off was a friend, they might do so on the basis that you pay them back as soon as you are able, or they might say “Oh, that’s all right … I can afford it …I’m just glad to see you out of trouble. That’s what friends are for.”.
It’s only the former case that is important. Where someone pays off the debt, but expects to be paid back.
Now, I suggest for your consideration that, if someone is prepared to extinguish a debt for you, but expect you to pay it back to them, there are certain things that must happen due to the demands of good faith all round, and civilised behaviour. And these are:
1. That they make sure that you actually owe the debt, in the first place. And they can only do this by discussing it with you.
2. That they make sure you agree to pay them back, and (again) they can only do this by discussing it (up front) with you.
3. You should only expect to pay them back what they, themselves, paid out … otherwise they are taking the piss.
Do you think those three are fair, honest, honourable, and reasonable?
I do.
So, when you get a letter from Bailiffs or Debt Collection Agencies, what has happened? Well, they have paid off your so-called ‘debt’ (very cheaply) and are demanding that you pay them back.
That’s what’s happening.
But:
1. They never checked with you first to see whether you actually owed anything
2. They didn’t agree with you beforehand that you would pay it back
3. They aren’t demanding repayment of their outlay, they are demanding about 1,000 times that amount.
No. They just muscled in. Did you ask them to? No, you didn’t.
Well, they muscled in, and paid of you alleged ‘debt’. So that no longer exists.
And, if they had wanted to be paid back, they should have got your agreement BEFOREHAND … shouldn’t they?
Not that you would have agreed, of course. Because:
1. You didn’t owe it anyway.
2. You never agreed to pay them back
3. Why should you let them take the piss by demanding 1,000 more than they actually paid?
Well, that’s the scenario.
All you have to do is to explain it to them. (AND STAND FIRM! If you are not going to stand firm, then don’t bother … just roll over … play dead … and pay up. It’s your choice. You either walk all over them … or let them walk all over you).
Now, the DebtBust Application contains Templates that create ‘nice’ letters. And you can use that if you wish.
But I come back to what I said earlier. THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND.
So, here, I’m going to propose an alternative, which should be comprehensible to an 8-year old (I will actually try to verify this by asking an 8-year old).
Dear Sirs,
I write in response of your letter of the… yada …
It seem to suggest that you paid off some alleged debt to … yada … on my behalf.
It seems you expect me to pay you back. Unfortunately, however, your expectation is not going to be fulfilled for the following reasons:
1. Before involving yourselves, you failed to check that the so-called amount was actually owed. (It wasn’t)
2. That I, myself, am the debtor. (I’m not)
3. That I, myself, agreed to pay you back. (I didn’t)
4. That you are anyway attempting to take the piss, because your actual outlay would have 10%, or less, than your demand to me.
You need to make the most of this reply, because it is all you are going to get. You have now been told the situation in the plainest of English, I therefore intend to shred any further communications from you (however ‘dramatic’ you care make them. You are going to have to come to terms with the fact that your psychology no longer works).
Moral: If you go around paying off other people’s debts, make sure that you have an agreement with them BEFOREHAND. That is the accepted rule of good faith and civilised behaviour. It's also basic Common Sense - being the same thing as having a good look around first - before you jump into the water - only to discover there are sharks swimming around. Because once you've jumped ... it's a bit too late to discover the sharks.
Sincerely without frivolity,
X: of the Y family (as commonly called), English(Welsh/Scottish/Irish/etc) Sovereign.
Without any admission of any liability whatsoever, and with all Natural Indefeasible, Rights reserved.
(Actually they should get Oscars for some of the ‘dramatics’ I’ve seen recently)
Carrie Modral, from the Jersey Care Leavers Association, said it was a long time coming.
